Chapter Two: The Final Leg

Clark Kent, with Barry and Lois, continued their trip around the world by crossing mainland China. During their voyage from China to Japan, Clark found himself thinking less and less about the money and more and more about Lois. To make it across Japan, the trio relied on rickshaws, with Barry pulling for the majority of the time. The final leg from Hawaii to New York would take nine days by a steam ship, utilizing the Panama Canal. They'd arrive in the early morning of Sunday, December 19, just in time, unless they had a run in with a very greedy goon.

You see, Lionel had taken a boat to New York, just to ride back on the same boat Clark and his friends would be using, and he wasn't planning on being friendly.

()()()()()

Clark was talking to Lois that night.

"You're gonna love Smallville." Clark said with a smile. "Once I pay off all the bills for the orphanage, I'll show you the best time, money can buy! We'll have a dinner; take in a show. Maybe we'll even go dancing."

"It sounds romantic." Lois said with a smile.

"It will be." Clark said as they leaned close to each other when Barry popped up.

"It's terrible!" Barry cried. "Awful! ... Am I interrupting?"

"Yes, but what's so bad, Barry?" Clark said with a sigh.

"The coal!" Barry called out. "Somebody dumped all the coal off the boat!"

()()()()()

That person was Lionel, he chuckled wickedly as he rowed back to shore on a life boat. That money was all his now.

"DARN IT!" Clark shouted as he punched the boat.

"Now we'll never make it." Barry sighed.

"We've gotta!" Clark said. "We've come too far to just give up now! We just need to think of something else we can use as fuel."

"Well the only thing I can think of to burn is wood, but where can we find wood in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? … Never mind."

The three then got to work at once, burning ever loose piece of wood they could find.

()()()()()

The next morning, Clark could see the shore line from a telescope.

"We're gonna make it!" Barry called out.

()()()()()

It took an extra day to Smallville thanks to less and less loose wood becoming available. They were a whole day late. When they came home, they looked so dejected that Iris didn't even bother being angry at them for leaving her there.

"We didn't make it." Barry sighed as he sat down.

Clark then walked up and gave Lois all the money he had, five dollars and seventy-three cents.

"Here." Clark said dejectedly. "This'll get you, at least dinner and a show, but you'll just have to go without me. Ollie, Chloe, I'm afraid the orphanage can't afford to keep you around."

"It can if we're volunteering…" Iris said plainly.

"Right." Barry said. "We're friends, Clark, and that doesn't cost a thing."

"And I like you for you, not your money." Lois said as she gave Clark the money back.

"Thanks guys." Clark sighed.

They then heard bells ringing.

"What's that?" Clark asked.

"The church bells." Iris said. "It is Sunday, you know."

"Sunday?" Clark asked. "But… Of course! We gained a day when we crossed the Pacific! There's still time!"

Clark rushed off as the three smiled.

()()()()()

At the Reform Club, Lionel looked at his watch with a smirk.

"Looks like he's not going to make it." Lionel said unable to hide the smile.

"He's not late yet, Luthor." Moira pointed out.

"Right." Bruce agreed. "The kid's still got a shot."

"5… 4… 3… 2…"

Just then, Clark burst in and stood next to the globe.

"Around the world in eighty days!" Clark called out with a smile as Moira and Bruce congratulated him and shook his hands while Lionel could only close his watch, agitated.

()()()()()

So Clark got the inheritance and used it to pay off the bills. He married Lois, and the two of them Barry, Iris, and the rest of the orphanage lived happily ever after.

"Kyle, how many times do I have to tell you to stop drawing on the walls?!" Iris shouted as the rest had a good chuckle.


Well that was fun.